I’m back and this time it’s with MY favorite recipes from 2024! These are the recipes that I absolutely couldn’t get enough of this past year and ones that I’ve come back to again and again because they’re just THAT good.
So scroll the list below… you might find recipes that you personally loved this year or perhaps some new to you recipes that you’re planning to put on your must-make list so you can see what the fuss is all about.
1. Sesame Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas with Garlic Tahini Yogurt Sauce
This is one of those recipes that I simply couldn’t stop eating. The sweet and tangy beautiful roasted veggies and chickpeas in a sesame ginger sauce paired perfectly over a tahini yogurt sauce. And let’s not forget about all of the fresh herbs that make this taste fresh. I scooped it up with pita, but putting it on top of a bed of jasmine rice or pearl couscous would be a dreamy, healthy dinner.
2. Truly Exceptional Salted Banana Chocolate Chunk Cookies
I was incredibly surprised that I loved these as much as I did. The first bite drew me in with it’s deep, rich, caramelized banana flavor. The dough hints of brown butter and cinnamon, and with each bite you get puddles of dark chocolate with that flaky salt. Seriously one of the best bites I’ve had in a long time.
3. Slow Cooker Gochujang Chicken Sandwiches
Please don’t skip out on these sandwiches! OMG I loved how spicy and slightly sweet and are super easy to pop in the slow cooker for an effortless dinner. Trust me when I say that these are one of the easiest, tastiest dinners that you can serve a variety of ways. Try serving the chicken over rice for a fabulous high-protein meal prep!
4. Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad
One of the best salads I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously. It’s one of tangy and zesty flavors thanks to a beautiful lemon vinaigrette and the crunchy, sweet pickled red onions, tangy feta, bright green olives and tons of fresh herbs. This would be incredible served with my hot honey salmon from my cookbook. Please make it asap! You won’t regret it.
5. Strawberry ‘Almond Croissant’ Puff Pastry Tarts
Are you utterly obsessed with almond croissants like me? Do you love anything and everything almond flavored? Then you need to try these beautiful, easy strawberry almond croissant puff pastry tarts. They are the most perfect spring brunch (or really anytime you’re feeling like you want something beautiful for brunch!) The puff pastry gets golden and crispy and there’s an delicious almond filling plus the crunch of sliced almonds that get beautifully toasted and golden in the oven. Make asap and prepare to fall in love!
6. Sheet Pan Herby Lemon Garlic Chicken and Potatoes
A go-to dinner for our family! I absolutely LOVE how delicious and EASY this sheet pan meal is. The tangy lemon dressing and marinade creates tender chicken plus golden, tender potatoes. Serve it all over that zippy, peppery arugula and then top with feta and lots of fresh herbs. So good, so simple. A must-make dinner!
7. Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches
UTTERLY OBSESSED with this recipe!! I love making it when I’m entertaining because it is a recipe that everyone loves and it’s easy to throw together. For this one, I essentially took the flavors of Italian beef (a Chicago-staple!) and used chicken instead, because frankly, I just love chicken more than beef. The chicken comes out tender, there’s a little heat from the giardiniera and there’s the most incredible tang from pepperoncini. Throw it in a sandwich and call it a day!
8. Grilled Turmeric Lime Chicken Bowls
I love this recipe because it reminds me of growing cucumbers in my garden. I was so proud they grew so beautiful and I was inspired to make a crunchy cucumber avocado salad, then decided to whip up a sweet and savory marinade for some grilled chicken and serve it over spicy, gingery garlic ramen noodles. Truly a dinner I could not stop eating.
9. Peanut Butter Protein Cookie Dough Bites
I love peanut butter and I love cookie dough, so alas, this recipe was born out of my love for sweet little treats and my passion for getting in optimal nutrition. This was a recipe I couldn’t stop making. To me, they felt like the perfect little sweet bite when I was in the middle of writing my cookbook and needed a quick nutritious snack. Trust me when I say you HAVE to make this recipe. My kiddos love this one and so do I!
10. Vanilla Brown Sugar Oatmeal Latte Cookies with Espresso Icing
Another favorite cookie from AK Cookie Week this year! Oatmeal cookies are always going to be on the top of my list but when you add brown butter, dark brown sugar and espresso powder, it’s going to be a guaranteed winner!! I truly cannot believed how much you all loved these!
11. Bright & Herby Lemongrass Chicken Green Curry
Fun fact about me: curry is one of my favorite foods. I love how warming it feels and the nourishing ingredients and plenty of veggies make me happy. This one has lemongrass, which isn’t necessary but does adds a freshness and brightness to the curry. This is a great, quick and easy recipe for meal prep. Don’t forget to top this one with TONS of fresh herbs and prepare to head to flavortown.
12. Spicy Brown Butter Goat Cheese Pasta with Sweet Corn & Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
There are simply so many incredible flavors in this, it’s hard to not want to make it. The sweet squash! The spicy BROWN BUTTER & GOAT CHEESE pasta! The little bites of sweet corn! Plus the pickled jalapenos? Truly a dream. Try this one with orecchiette pasta next and you’ll be in love, too.
13. The Most Delicious Breakfast Cookies
My 4 year old son used to wake me up at 5:30am begging to make these breakfast cookies. I was happy to crawl out of bed and start baking, because not only do these cookies bring a smile to his face, but they are also packed with nutrition thanks to peanut butter, oats, hemp, chia and flax! SO FREAKING GOOD. We keep these in the freezer at all times now and on busy mornings I’ll throw one in my son’s lunchbox, or I’ll munch on these for a quick post-workout refuel.
14. Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan & Chili Crisp
I mean the picture kinda says it all, right? They’re just so beautiful, insanely crunchy, spicy and served with the most delicious yogurt sauce for dipping and cooling the brussels down. Perfect served with chicken or salmon. Truly just a fantastic side dish that I’ll be making again soon!
15. One Pan Baked Pesto Orzo with Chicken Meatballs
Another family favorite! And this is packed with both protein and tons of veggies! There’s golden brown umami-rich mushrooms in the pesto orzo to add lots of flavor, and zucchini in the chicken meatballs to help keep them moist and tender. I serve with one with lots of red pepper flakes for the best one pan dinner.
16. Veggie-Packed Meat Sauce (freezer-friendly, great for kids!)
A big pot of this meat sauce was one of the most repeated meals in my kitchen this past year. It started as a way to include more nutrition in my kid’s diets, but when I realized how flavorful it was and how much they loved it, I’ve made it again and again. I love it with spaghetti, pappardelle and linguine. Rigatoni or ziti is great, too!
17. Lemon Pistachio Cake with Lovely Lemon Frosting
This was the 2024 Valentine’s Day cake and it was truly a favorite. I tested the recipe 5 or 6 times just to make sure it was perfect and I couldn’t be more happy with it. The lemon pistachio combination is such a delightful surprise and the lemon frosting is light and addictive. A must make!!
18. Pasta Pomodoro
This is another repeat dinner in our house. I made this one countless times thanks to all the little cherry and sungold tomatoes my gorgeous garden produced. I was always looking for ways to use up the buckets of little tomatoes I picked and this easy pasta always delivered on flavor and ease. This one’s great with grilled shrimp or chicken for a light summer dinner.
19. Zucchini & Sausage Baked Orzo with Hot Honey & Feta
Probably one of the best one pan meals to make when you need to use up a ton of veggies! I love the zucchini, corn and bell pepper combo, plus the sausage, creamy orzo, tangy feta and hot honey. Add some fresh basil and you’ve got yourself a crazy good, crazy nutritious dinner.
20. Curried Chickpea Couscous Salad
Need a quick vegetarian salad you can enjoy all week long? Then try this curried chickpea couscous. It almost has every color of the rainbow and the simplicity of it is one of the reasons it’s so great. You can make this in about 20 minutes and it stays good in your fridge for days!
21. Espresso Yogurt Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
Espresso and chocolate is one of my very favorite dessert combinations and this cake is everything I could want for a little breakfast treat. The hint of brown butter and maple builds the flavor of the cake even more. Did I mention it has an espresso glaze? Yeah, you gotta make this one ASAP.
22. Sheet Pan Jalapeño Pistachio Chicken Meatball Bowls
If you want a high-protein dinner that feels a little impressive, then make these! The flavors will surprise you and you’ll love building a healthy bowl with layers of flavor. Yum!
23. Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet
All of my favorite dessert flavors in one GIANT cookie? It’s gonna be a hell yes from me. I love how the sweet butterscotch pairs perfectly with the earthy tahini. Try serving this with vanilla bean or a salted caramel ice cream. Best easy dessert ever!!!
24. Sweet and Spicy Gochujang Chicken Bowls
I can’t believe how good these were. Another easy dinner favorite for my husband and I and even my mother in law commented on how good this recipe was. The sweet and spicy chicken is perfect over rice, in tacos or with pasta (rice noodles or pappardelle is fantastic!)
25. Salted Butterscotch Zucchini Coffee Cake
Oh my gosh you guys! This one is just dreamy! The brown sugar crumble. The sweet butterscotch. The moist cinnamon-spiced cake. Please make this and enjoy with a cup of coffee. You’ll love it, I promise.
I had the absolute best year and cannot thank you enough for being here and continuing to support Ambitious Kitchen! I couldn’t do this without you.
